Students

COMP2350 – Database Systems

2022 – Session 2, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor and lecturer
Carl Svensson
Contact via Contact via email
4 Research Park Drive
TBD - arrange via email
Lecturer
Adnan Mahmood
Lecturer
Frances Louise
Frances Louise
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
COMP1350 or ISYS114
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
co-badged with COMP6350
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides an in-depth study of modern database technology and its dominant role in developing and maintaining enterprise information systems. The aim is to teach students how to program database applications. The emphasis is placed on business applications, using Structured Query Language (SQL) as an interactive and a programmatic language, on principles of the relational-database model, and on fundamental components of a client-server database-management system. Practical work involves the use of a commercial database-management system together with programming tools.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts that underlie modern database management systems.
  • ULO2: Design and develop small, functional database applications using modern database design methods.
  • ULO3: Develop skills in using a industrial-strength database tools and interactive development environments for building databases.
  • ULO4: Complete different database programming tasks to specification using SQL .

General Assessment Information

Assessment Deadlines

  • Unless otherwise stated, assignments 1, 2, and 3 will be due on Sunday 11:55pm Sydney time of the week specified in the unit guide.
  • A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.
  • Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of '0' will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted.

This assumes the calendar week starts on a Monday. Note that these are a deadline - not a goal - so don't aim for them. It is expected that students start early and iterate on their assessments. Submission boxes are open and allow for students to update their submission up until the assignment deadline. Note that there is a daylight savings change on Sunday in week 9 (2nd October).

A separate assignment box will be available for grace period submissions and late-penalty submissions during the submission window. No further submissions will be able to be made to the original assignment box submissions. If there is a submission in the grace period submission box / late-penalty submission box, this will be taken as the submission to be marked rather than the one in the originial submission box.

 

Applying for special consideration? Be mindful of the following!

For assignment 1, 2, or 3: It is expected that you continue on your assignment while waiting a for special consideration application to be processed (unless the circumstances surrounding the special consideration are ongoing). Put in an Ask.mq special consideration and mention whether it is for Assignment 1, Assignment 2, or Assignment 3.

For one of the quizzes: If you are ill, have respiratory symptoms (cold / flu), or need to isolate for covid-related reasons, there are two things to do here.

1: submit a special consideration request via Ask.mq and

2: notify the convenor via email once this has been submitted.

The convenor will be in touch via email to look at alternate arrangements based on the circumstances of the situation. In the special consideration application, mention whether it is for Quiz 1, Quiz 2, or Quiz 3.

For all other special consideration situations, apply through Ask.mq as soon as possible and email the convenor once it has been submitted.

For the final exam: If you are ill / have respiratory symptoms, or have to isolate due to covid related reasons (even on the day of the exam), or have any other circumstances listed in the special consideration provisions of the university policy, then submit an Ask.mq special consideration request and send an email to the unit convenor. If the special consideration is approved, then you will be notified of an alternate date to attempt a supplementary exam during the Faculty / University supplimentary exam period. Please make yourself aware of when these dates are as they become available.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online Quizzes 20% No Week 3, 7, and 11
Assignment 1 10% No Week 5
Assignment 2 10% No Mid Semester Break W2
Assignment 3 10% No Week 12
Final Examination 50% No Written exam scheduled during the exam period

Online Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 3, 7, and 11
Weighting: 20%

 

There will be many quizzes over the semester to encourage engagement with and understanding of the material by the students.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts that underlie modern database management systems.
  • Design and develop small, functional database applications using modern database design methods.
  • Complete different database programming tasks to specification using SQL .

Assignment 1

Assessment Type 1: Modelling task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 5
Weighting: 10%

 

Assignment 1 will focus on conceptual modelling and logical design of databases.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts that underlie modern database management systems.
  • Develop skills in using a industrial-strength database tools and interactive development environments for building databases.

Assignment 2

Assessment Type 1: Design Implementation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Mid Semester Break W2
Weighting: 10%

 

Assignment 2 will assess students' ability to implement a relational database as well as querying that database.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts that underlie modern database management systems.
  • Design and develop small, functional database applications using modern database design methods.
  • Develop skills in using a industrial-strength database tools and interactive development environments for building databases.
  • Complete different database programming tasks to specification using SQL .

Assignment 3

Assessment Type 1: Programming Task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 10%

 

Assignment 3 will assess students' ability to enhance a database through procedural programming.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts that underlie modern database management systems.
  • Design and develop small, functional database applications using modern database design methods.
  • Develop skills in using a industrial-strength database tools and interactive development environments for building databases.
  • Complete different database programming tasks to specification using SQL .

Final Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Written exam scheduled during the exam period
Weighting: 50%

 

The final examination will assess students' understanding of the fundamental concepts behind database management systems, and their skills in database programming and development.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts that underlie modern database management systems.
  • Design and develop small, functional database applications using modern database design methods.
  • Complete different database programming tasks to specification using SQL .

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Classes

Each week during the semester you should set aside two hours for lectures, one hour for a tutorial class and one hour for a practical session. For details of days and times consult the timetables webpage at https://timetables.mq.edu.au/2022/. More specific information will be announced via the unit webpage on iLearn. Students are urged to actively participate in the tutorials; this helps enhancing the understanding by students.

Note that practicals and tutorials commence in week 2. You should have selected a practical session and a tutorial session during enrolment. You should attend the sessions you are enrolled in. 

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials

Textbook

The textbook listed below cover much of the required material  that will be used in preparation of lectures and/or assignments and/or practicals.

For some parts of learning, other necessary material will be made available on the unit iLearn site.

Leganto Resources

Unit reading details and breakdowns are available through the Leganto Block in the unit iLearn page.

Unit Webpage and Technology Used and Required

Digital recordings of lectures will be available on iLearn via tools such as Echo360 and Zoom.

Websites

The web page for this unit can be found at http://ilearn.mq.edu.au

Technology

In this unit you will be exposed to the following technology and tools

  • MySQL - Database Management System
  • MySQL Workbench - Data Modeling Software Tool

Discussion Boards

The unit will make use of discussion boards hosted within iLearn. Please post questions there, they will be monitored by the staff on the unit regularly.

Unit Schedule

Week

Topic

Reading

1

Introduction to databases and their uses 

Introduction to the relational model

Connolly & Begg, Chapters 1,2,4 + lecturer-provided notes

2

Database modeling (ER modeling, EER modeling)

Connolly & Begg, Chapters 12-13

3

(Conceptual, logical, and physical) database design

Connolly & Begg, Chapters 16-17

4-6

Data manipulation and database normalisation

Connolly & Begg, Chapters 6, 14-15

7

Relational algebra and query optimisation 

Connolly & Begg, Chapter 5

2-week mid-session teaching break

-- work on assessments --

8-9

Database programming

Connolly & Begg, Chapter 8

10

Transaction management

Connolly & Begg, Chapter 22

11

Concurrency control and data recovery

Connolly & Begg, Chapter 22 + lecturer-provided notes

12

Data storage and management Lecturer-provided notes

13

Revision

Lecturer-provided notes
3-week examination period. The database systems final exam will be scheduled during this period
Marks reporting period
Supplimentatry exam period (See university / faculty dates for details)

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

Based on the feedback from the previous offerings, this offering is:

  • adding more resources to support multiple modes of learning (online and f2f cohort)
  • adding more practice quiz resources for students
  • updating the assessment guidance and surfacing the link between assignments and the intended learning outcomes being demonstrated
  • changing the tutorial mode to involve more group discussion and interaction while exploring database theory concepts, but keeping the separate tutorial hour and practical class hour for this offering.

This offering is only changing some of the items based on feedback from the previous offerings. Other items brought forward by students are being reviewed at the program / degree level and require further consultation before further adjustments are considered to address those items.


Unit information based on version 2022.04 of the Handbook